Case having magnetic lock means

ABSTRACT

A case includes a bottom part or tray with a cover part which is telescopically engagable therewith. The top and bottom parts include interengagable latching members, namely a movable depending latch carried by the cover which is engagable with a detent or receiving latch part carried by the bottom when the two parts are telescopically engaged. The top part or cover includes a recess in which designed to receive a magnet, which magnetically attracts the latch parts carried by the cover so that they are displaced out of engagement with the receiving detents carried by the bottom part to unlock the device. The magnet is provided with a handle so that it may be lifted into and out of the recess defined in the top part in accordance with whether the two parts are to be locked together or unlocked.

United States Patent 91 Kobayashi CASE HAVING MAGNETIC LOCK MEANS [76]lnventor: Sanzo Kobayashi. No. 34-9 Ryusen 3-ch0me. Taito-ku. Tokyo.Japan [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 279,181

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 17, 1971 Japan 46-107707[52] US. Cl. 220/55 K, 220/55 MG, 292/33, 292/144, 70/276 [51] Int.CL... A47j 27/08, A47j 36/10, B65d 45/00 [58] Field of Search 220/55 K,55; 206/DIG. 33; 292/144, 33', 70/276 Sept. 24, 1974 PrimaryExaminer-Ge0rge T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlew and Tuttle [5 7]ABSTRACT A case includes a bottom part or tray with a cover part whichis telescopically engagable therewith. The top and bottom parts includeinterengagable latching members, namely a movable depending latchcarried by the cover which is engagable with a detent or receiving latchpart carried by the bottom when the two parts are telescopicallyengaged. The top part or cover includes a recess in which designed toreceive a magnet, which magnetically attracts the latch parts carried bythe cover so that they are displaced out of engagement with thereceiving detents carried by the bottom part to unlock the device. Themagnet is provided with a handle so that it may be lifted into and outof the recess defined in the top part in accordance with whether the twoparts are to be locked together or unlocked.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 3187. 525 v SE 20? 2 CASE HAVING MAGNETICLOCK MEANS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general tothe construction of interengagable container parts and in particular toa new and useful case or container which is made up of telescopicallyinterengagable top and bottom parts and which includes magnetic meansfor effecting latching and unlatching of the two parts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART The present invention relates to the lockdevice of the lid of a container such as a pencil case. As aconventional container such as a pencil case has not been provided witha lock device, more or less expensive commodities can not be containedwith safety. Recently some pencil cases have been provided with the lockdevice, but the mechanism is complex and expensive. The object of thisinvention is to offer a container such as a pencil case having the lockdevice which is simple in its mechanism. 1

Accordingly it is an object of the invention to provide an improvedcontainer having a novel means for latching and unlatching twointerengagable container parts which includes a magnet which ispositionable to attract the latch members to displace it either into alatching position or into an unlatched position, in accordance with thesetting of the magnet and the latched parts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container whichincludes a rectangular box shaped bottom part and similarly shaped upperpart which is engagable over the bottom part and wherein the top partincludes a depending latch member on each side which are eiigagable withrespective receiving detents defined on the side walls of the bottompart when the two parts are telescopically interengaged and thecontainer is closed, and wherein the top part includes a recess forreceiving a magnet which when positioned in the recess will attract thelatch members of the top part to move them out of engagement with thebottom latch part and detents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a case which is simplein design, rugged in construction and economical to manufacture.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference ismade to the following description of typical embodiments thereof asillustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the Drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front top exploded perspective view of a case constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top side perspective view of the bottom portion of the caseshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom side perspective view of the top portion of the caseshown in FIG. 1 and with a portion thereof being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along the line A-A of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line AA of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a section similar to FIG. 4 showing the magnetic device in theattracted position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the magnetic device inposition.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to thedrawings in particular, the invention embodied therein comprises acasing generally designated 10, which includes a lid or cover part 1 ofrectangular box shaped form which telescopically engages over a bottompart of similar form.

In accordance with the invention the top part 1 includes a top wall witha recess or indentation 2 of rectangular form shaped to receive thebottom portion of a magnet holder 3 which includes a handle portion forlifting it into and out of the indentation or recess 2. The top wall ofthe top part 1 includes a hollow portion with cavities 4 and 4' on eachside of the indentation 2 as shown in FIG. 4. The two cavities includelatch means which are interengagable with detents 11 and 11 of thebottom 6 when the two parts are telescoped together. The latch meansinclude hook shaped latch members 7 and 7 having horizontal portionswhich ride in the respective hollows 4 and 4' and depending portionswhich terminate in hooks 9 and 9' which engage into recesses or detents11' and 11 respectively of the bottom part 10. When the latch parts 7and 7 are in the operative position the hooks 9 and 9' will engageautomatically into the detent holders 11 and 11. In accordance with afeature of the invention the entire latch part 7 and 7 is made ofmagnetically attractable material or it includes a magneticallyattractable portion 5 and 5 respectively which ride in the hollow spaces4 and 4 and which are biased into an operative position by springs 6 and6' respectively. In the operative position shown in FIG. 4 the hooksengage into the detents 11' and 11 of the bottom part and hold the twoparts together so that they may not be unlocked. However when thelatches 7 and 7 are attracted by a magnetic field the hooks 9, 9 aremoved out of engagement with the associated detents 11, 11'.

The example shown in the drawing consists of a case ofacoveriiig typemare of'fia'r'dsyn'fli'tic'r'sifi. In the example, the engagement ordisengagement of the hooked projections (7) (7') and the connections(11) (11') can be discerned by the indication of the displaying areas(12) (12) provided to the outside of the magnetic pieces (5) (5) throughthe peep holes (13) (13') provided to the ceiling wall of the hollowindentations t In the present invention described above, by lightlypressing the lid (I) placed on the case proper (10) the hooks (9) (9')at the tip of the magnetic pieces (5) (5) are engaged with theconnections (11) (11) to make it impossible to open the lid (1) due tothe mechanism in which the magnetic pieces (5) (5') are forced intoagainst the elasticity of the spring elements (6) (6) and then withdrawnto the former position when the jaws of the hooked projections (7) (7)engage with the protruded edges of the connections (11) (11'). On theother hand, when the magnetic device (3) is fixed into the indentation(2) the magnetic pieces (5) (5') are drawn near and the engagementbetween the hooks at the tip of the projections (7) (7) and theconnections (11) (11) can be released.

As mentioned above, in the present invention relating to the case of acovering type the indentation (2) is formed on the surface of theceiling wall of the lid (1) and the flat hollow indentations (4) (4')are formed on the both sides of said indentation (2) with which themagnetic device (3) is connected or disconnected, the magnetic pieces(5) (5) being provided to the hollow indentations (4) (4') so that theformer can proceed to or recede from the indentation (2), the springelements (6) (6') being provided so that the magnetic pieces (5) (5')can be withdrawn to the farther position, the hooked projections (7)('7') turning outward being provided to the underside of said magneticpieces (5) (5 and protruded to the underside of the lid (1) through theholes (8) (8'), and the hooks (9) (9') at the tip of the projection (7)(7) are made to engage with the connections (11) (11) provided to thecase proper so that it can properly be said that the present inventionhas excellent merits in the easy and exact engagement and disengagementof the lid (1) as described in the above example, especially in theexact engagement due to the elasticity of the spring elements (6) (6')provided to the magnetic pieces (5) (5').

What is claimed is:

l. A case comprising a bottom substantially rectangular box shapedbottom part having side walls, at least one of said side walls having aninterior recess defining a detent, a top part of substantiallyrectangular box shaped configuration telescopically engagable over saidbottom part, a latch member including a horizontal portion slidable onsaid top part and a vertical portion depending from said horizontalportion and said top part and defining a hook engagable with said detentof said bottom part, means biasing said latch member to cause said hookto engage in said detent, a receiving area demarcated on said top part,a magnet positionable on said receiving area at a location where itsmagnetic field is disposed in the range of said latch member, said latchmember including at least a portion which is magnetically attractablewhich is moved by positioning of said magnet in said receiving areaagainst the force of said biasing means to remove said hook portion outof engagement with said detent to open said case.

2. A case according to claim 1 wherein said top part includes a walldefining a hollow with a viewing opening overlying said latch member,said latch member being movable in the hollow of said wall below saidviewing opening and being visible in said viewing opening to indicatewhen said casing is latched and unlatched.

3. A case according to claim 1 wherein said bottom part includes arecess defining a detent on each side wall, and said casing alsoincluding a latch for engagement with each detent located on respectivesides of said receiving area, each of said latches including a dependingportion with a hook shaped end engagable with said detent, each of saidlatches including a beveled face which is deflectable to clear saiddetent by the area of said side walls of said bottom part adjacent tosaid detent when said top part is closed over said bottom part and beingmovable after deflection into engagement with said detent.

4. A case of a covering type characterized by a case (10) withconnections (11) (11') having a lid (1) with holes (8) (8) therein witha ceiling wall having a surface with a central indentation (2), and flathollow indentations (4) (4) on each side of said central indentation(2), a magnetic device (3) engageable and disengageable in the centralindentation, magnetic pieces (5) (5) located in the hollow indentations(4) (4) movable in respect to the magnetic device when in the centralindentation (2), spring elements (6) (6) biasing said magnetic pieces(5) (5') to an outer position, said magnetic pieces having hookedprojections (7) (7) turning outward and protruding from the underside ofthe lid (1) through the holes (8) (8) and engageable with theconnections (11) (11') of said case when urged by said spring elements,but being movable against the biasing force of said spring elements bysaid magnetic device to disengage from said connections.

5. A case comprising a bottom part, a cover part engageable with saidbottom part, interengageable latch parts carried on said bottom part andsaid cover part in a position to interengage when said cover part isengaged on said bottom part for locking said parts together andincluding a magnetically attractable displaceable latch member, andmagnet means associated with the case for attracting and releasing saidlatch member for opening and closing said latch parts, said cover partbeing telescopically engageable with said bottom part and wherein saidbottom part comprises a rectangular box shaped portion having side wallsand at least one of said side walls having a recess defining a detent,said magnetically attractable latch member comprising a member carriedon said top part and being displaceable on said top part, said memberhaving a hook-shaped latch engageable with said detent, means forbiasing said latch member to urge the hookshaped portion into engagementwith said recess detent of said bottom part, said magnet beingpositionable to overcome the force of said biasing means to move saidlatch member out of engagement with said detent.

1. A case comprising a bottom substantially rectangular box shapedbottom part having side walls, at least one of said side walls having aninterior recess defining a detent, a top part of substantiallyrectangular box shaped configuration telescopically engagable over saidbottom part, a latch member including a horizontal portion slidable onsaid top part and a vertical portion depending from said horizontalportion and said top part and defining a hook engagable with said detentof said bottom part, means biasing said latch member to cause said hookto engage in said detent, a receiving area demarcated on said top part,a magnet positionable on said receiving area at a location where itsmagnetic field is disposed in the range of said latch member, said latchmember including at least a portion which is magnetically attractablewhich is moved by positioning of said magnet in said receiving areaagainst the force of said biasing means to remove said hook portion outof engagement with said detent to open said case.
 2. A case according toclaim 1 wherein said top part includes a wall defining a hollow with aviewing opening overlying said latch member, said latch member beingmovable in the hollow of said wall below said viewing opening and beingvisible in said viewing opening to indicate when said casing is latchedand unlatched.
 3. A case according to claim 1 wherein said bottom partincludes a recess defining a detent on each side wall, and said casingalso including a latch for engagement with each detent located onrespective sides of said receiving area, each of said latches includinga depending portion with a hook shaped end engagable with said detent,each of said latches including a beveled face which is deflectable toclear said detent by the area of said side walls of said bottom partadjacent to said detent when said top part is closed over said bottompart and being movable after deflection into engagement with saiddetent.
 4. A case of a covering type characterized by a case (10) withconnections (11) (11'') having a lid (1) with holes (8) (8'') thereinwith a ceiling wall having a surface with a central indentation (2), andflat hollow indentations (4) (4'') on each side of said centralindentation (2), a magnetic device (3) engageable and disengageable inthe central indentation, magnetic pieces (5) (5'') located in the hollowindentations (4) (4'') movable in respect to the magnetic device when inthe central indentation (2), spring elements (6) (6'') biasing saidmagnetic pieces (5) (5'') to an outer position, said magnetic pieceshaving hooked projections (7) (7'') turning outward and protruding fromthe underside of the lid (1) through the holes (8) (8'') and engageablewith the connections (11) (11'') of said case when urged by said springelements, but being movable against the biasing force of said springelements by said magnetic device to disengage from said connections. 5.A case comprising a bottom part, a cover part engageable with saidbottom part, interengageable latch parts carried on said bottom part andsaid cover part in a position to interengagE when said cover part isengaged on said bottom part for locking said parts together andincluding a magnetically attractable displaceable latch member, andmagnet means associated with the case for attracting and releasing saidlatch member for opening and closing said latch parts, said cover partbeing telescopically engageable with said bottom part and wherein saidbottom part comprises a rectangular box shaped portion having side wallsand at least one of said side walls having a recess defining a detent,said magnetically attractable latch member comprising a member carriedon said top part and being displaceable on said top part, said memberhaving a hook-shaped latch engageable with said detent, means forbiasing said latch member to urge the hook-shaped portion intoengagement with said recess detent of said bottom part, said magnetbeing positionable to overcome the force of said biasing means to movesaid latch member out of engagement with said detent.